The Natural State Advisory Council set a bold agenda for transforming four state parks, hoping Petit Jean State Park becomes a “national climbing destination,” Delta Heritage Trail State Park becomes a “trail town” with a “significant gravel event,” Pinnacle Mountain State Park becomes a destination for a “running, hiking and biking trail along the shoreline” and Queen Wilhelmina State Park becomes a home to a gateway trail concept.
Some local merchants report steady to slower customer streams so far this holiday season but all were optimistic that seasonal shopping is turning around from the lows of the past couple of years.
The Madison County Quorum Court’s budget committee decided at last week’s meeting to take a wait-and-see approach to Sheriff Ronnie Boyd’s request for experience pay on top of longevity pay for deputies and dispatchers. It was the final such meeting before County Judge Larry Garrett delivered a proposed budget to the justices of the peace for consideration prior to Monday night’s regular quorum court meeting.
In a brief meeting, the Madison County Quorum Court on Monday night unanimously approved an operating budget of $18,062,779.21 for 2024, an increase of $2,002,655 over 2023’s budget of $16,060,124.96. The budget, which was passed on its third reading by title only, contains 5% raises for employees making $38,000 or below, with those making above that amount receiving a 3% raise. Those amounts were recommended to the court by the budget committee, which met on Dec. 5 and 13. The county is also giving new sheriff’s deputies with up to five years’ experience the equivalent of five years’ longevity pay. The committee also decided to make this recommendation at a previous meeting.
Second-grade students from Watson Primary School in Huntsville sing Christmas songs at the Madison County Courthouse on Friday.
The Madison County Water Facilities Board met on Dec. 12 in the water office. Attending were Randy Riley, Phil Bolinger, James Fancher, Kenneth Watkins, Bryan Carson, Tim Mayes, Jeremy Rawn, Rod Reynolds, Patti Cline, Rick Gurley and Baleigh Burnett.
After nearly 33 years, Rick Allen Headley, 48, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Fulton County Circuit Court on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in the 1991 death of Sabrina Underwood.
Board Policy 2.5 was approved Monday. It does not specify guns or other weapons but Superintendent Jonathan Warren said those who complete the 60 hours of training would be allowed to conceal-carry on campus despite it being illegal for most other people.
The Huntsville Parks Commission last week recommend the appointment of Janice Smith to fill a vacancy left on the panel by her husband Don Smith, who passed away on July 22.
The Huntsville School Board authorized Superintendent Jonathan Warren to create an Emergency Response Team made up of classified and certified employees during Monday night’s monthly school board meeting.
The Huntsville City Council adopted a budget for 2024, swore in a new council member to fill a vacant ward position, and voted to redistrict city wards without having to call a special election, during a busy regular meeting on Monday night. All council members with the exception of Kevin Meythaler attended.
A Madison County poultry grower affected by the closing of Cooks Venture said she stood her ground when crews from the Arkansas Department of Poultry and Livestock turned up on her property to euthanize her birds, demanding either they or Cooks Venture handle the cleanup.
About 50 chicken growers affected by the closing of poultry company Cooks Venture met Dec. 7 in Green Forest to discuss their legal and financial options. The meeting was attended by Patrick Fisk, Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission director; District 28 State Sen. Bryan King, and Eddie Todd, president of the Mo-Ark Poultry Growers Association and incoming president of Arkansas Farmers Union. The farmers also heard from Tray Kitchens, a Little Rock lawyer who said the growers might have a case against Cooks Venture.
Derek Witt, center, addresses a crowd of volunteers on Dec. 8 prior to the annual Kiwanis Club Shopping with a Kid event at Walmart.
Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture, on Sunday denied a request made by Dist. 28 Sen. Bryan King for an emergency declaration regarding the closing of Cooks Venture and the euthanizing of hundreds of thousands of chickens on property owned by the poultry company's former growers.
The Madison County Quorum Court’s budget committee will recommend two new positions, that of comptroller and human resources, as part of its budget package to the full quorum court.
Children will shop alongside community volunteers this week during the annual Huntsville Kiwanis Christmas Shopping with a Kid at the Huntsville Walmart. The civic group will also host its annual auction for the shopping event on Saturday.
Visitors to downtown Huntsville will likely notice a new feature atop the Basham Building: a newly-installed replica of a 1920s-era Ford water tank.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., who represents the 4th Congressional District, visited Jasper on Dec. 4 to listen to constituents’ opinions regarding re-designating land around the Buffalo National River and to alleviate concerns about the effects of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act) on the area.
The Huntsville School Board delayed taking any official action on Superintendent Jonathan Warren’s evaluation and contract renewal until the regular board meeting on Monday, Dec. 11.